Knitting machine



@et 27, @EL w A. :NGALLS 3?@290942 KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 16, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l 4 IIIIIIW Oct. 27, 1931. w. A. INGALLs L829f094 KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 16, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 n s m fr il! m E M /mm c n r: n n 8 k Y 7. 3 E 3 f a 3 l\ 3 3 l 4 WW 4 'ga In carrying out these objects, I have Patented Oct. 27, 1931 PATENT OFFICE WILLIS ADOLPBUS INGALLS, F SYRACUSE, NEW 'YORK KNITTING MACHINE I Application filed June 16,

This invention relates to improvements in knitting machines in which certain of the needle actuating cams are adjustably mounted forl governing the length of the stitch,` and 5 which operate in conjunction with Web-holding detents mounted in juxtaposition to each needle for preventing the misplacement of the loops on the needles as the needles are reciprocated through said loops in the act of knitting and thereby reducing the liability of dropping the'loops orstitches during this operation.

The main obj ects of this invention are to provide a simple and economically construct` y, ed mechanism which may be easily and quickly manipulated or the purpose of controlling or varying the length of the travel of the needles and, therefore, the length of the stitches at will. y

justably mounted certain portions of the needle actuating cams upon the needle carrier, have provided simple and eiiicient means connected with the adjustable cams which may i be easily manipulated from the exterior of the needle carrier for moving said adjustable cams relative to the remaining portion of the cams for governing the length of the travel .of the needles, and have provided the needle 'carrier with a series of oscillatory detents,

one for each needle reciprocally movable into and out of engagement with the edgeof the knit fabric in synchronism with the movements of the corresponding needles'for holding the loops in proper relation tosaid needles as the latter are reciprocated for engaging and drawing the yarn therethrough and thereby to. reduce the liability of dropping i the stitches during the knitting operation.

40 Another object is to support the oscillatory detents upon the needle carrier Without the use of extra pivotal pins and in such manner that any one or more detents may be removed and replaced Without disturbing the remaining detents.

1930. Serial No. 461,563.

Other objects and advantages relating to the construction of the cams and detents and to the manner of mounting the same upon the needle carrier will be brought out in the following description, taken infconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a top plan' of a segment of a needle carrier plate fir knitting machines embodying the various 'features of my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2 2, Figure l, showing the needles and web-supporting detents, together with the rotary cams for operating the needles and detents showing one of the needles in its loop-forming position and the detent in its elevated position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional View taken on line 3 3, Figure 2, showing a top plan of the cams for operating the needles and the adjustable cam members for governing the travel of the needles.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail vertical section taken on line 4-4, Figure 1, illustrating the manner in which the adjustable cam members are manipulated.

Figure 5' is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 5--5, .Figure l, showing the inner portion of the carrier plate for the needles and detents and adjacent portion of the cam members for operating the detents, the detent being shownin its Web-engaging position and the needle as about to pass through the previously formed loop to the dotted position 'for engaging the yarn prepara-tory to drawingthe latter through the loop.'

Figure 6 is an inner face view of the carrier plate showing the ends, of the needles and detents ,and a plan view of the cams for actuating the detents. i

In order that this invention may be clearly understood, I have shown a part of a knitting machine comprising a relatively stationary frame -1- having a needle-supporting vus.

plate -2- removably secured thereto by bolts --3-. The plate 2- is provided with a multiplicity of guide grooves -4` in which are reciprocally movable' a corresponding num ber j of conventional knitting needles -5. The frame '1 -is also provided with a guide ring -6- removably secured by screws -7-fto the upper face thereof to overhang lo relation thereto as shown in Figure 2.

l A cam supporting frame 8 is rotatably mounted upon the frame -1- and comprises -a pair of concentric geai` -9- and -10- in radial spaced relation and'having their gear teeth projecting into respective concentric annular ooves provided in the adjacent portions o the frame 1, said teeth being adapted to engage with axially spacedcoaxial gears 9- and 10'- which extend into openings provided in the frame A1 in alignment with the respective gear-receiving grooves .and which are secured to a rotary shaft 11-, said shaft being journaled 1n suitable bearings -11- on the undersidey ofthe stationa frame .-.1- as shown in Figure 2.-

he gear ring 9fis rotatably mounted in a recess in the top of the Yframe -1- around the outer periphery lof theVA guide ring @-6- and is provided with a cap plate lor ring -l2- removably secured thereto by screws --13 and extended across the upper face of said guide ring for receiving and supporting a cam supporting ring 14-' which extends around the inner perlphery of the de ring andis removablysecure by screws -15-f to the inner edge of the cap plate -'12-"to rotate therewith.

The needles are adapted to be reciprocated in the conventional manner along their -respective guides '-4- by a pair of lcomplementa cam rings or plates 1G- and -17+. Ye cam rings -16- may be of any well-known conventional construe'- tion and is removabl secured; by screws -18- to the'up'per ace of the Vgear ring to rotate therewith,while the lcam ring tion, is compo of a plurality of fixed plates --19- and a like number of movable cam plates '20-. J.

The fixed lates .19- are secured in circumferential i spaced relation by screws -15- and--'15. to the underside of the cam-supporting ring `14 and each :of the plates 20- are positioned between the ad# acent ixedplates '19- so as to berotated y said fixed' plates which, in turn, are rotated by thelcam Yring 14- so that the camrings ,-17- and 16- are rotated in unison and in radial s aced relation so as to form a cam groove between them for receiving the usual projections -5- ofthe needles `5 as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

the needle supporting plate -2- in spaced The cam groove G may be of any suit. able contour to obtain the desired movement of the needles -5- and, in this instance, extends in a.l zig-zag course in a neral direction concentric with the qenter of the ma-V chine. v

The cam ring 17 is positionedadjacent the \interior ofthe cam groove with the fixed plates` -19- thereof'so positioned at the inner apexes of the groove that the back longitudinal edges thereof, as considered from the direction of movement, will lie in the vertical plane of the back wall of that portionof the cam groove adapted to move the needles outwardly and,'therefore, cause the front longitudinal edges of the movable plate members -20- positioned between the fixed plates to form said back wall of the outwardly operatingVv portions of the groove and in parallel spaced relation withv the front wall thereof, while the outer ends of the plates .19 and 20-f formthe Vfront wall of that portion of the cam groove adapted to move the needles inwardly and are arranged in parallel sp ed relation with the opposite side or back wa of said groove portions, as clearlyillustrated in Figure 3, where the cam rings are arranged to travel in the direction indicated by the arrow '-X. The opposed edges of adjacent fixed plate members' -19- are arranged parallel spaced relation so as to permit the free longitudinal movement of the movable plates 20- therebetween during the adjustment of said movable plates for governing the length of travel of the needles and, therefore, the length of the stitch. l

It is now evident by referring to Figure 3 that whenthe movable plates -'20-l are in the position indicated by full lines, the needles-will be caused to travel a greater distance during the reciprocal movement thereof than when said plates are moved-to the position indicated by the dotted lines due to the diiierent relative positioning of the end walls of the plates with the adjacent or companion walls of thefgroove formed by the plate 16-.

Thisadjustment .of the plates 20- may be accomplished'in any suitable manner and for this purpose, I have vshown a simple and easily operated and constructed device for accomplishing this result which is comprised of vertically disposed cam-actuating pins'or `posts '-22- secured at their lower ends to the inner ends .of respective movable cam -supporting ring -14-, said slots extending inwardly from thel outer periphery/` of the plate i4- in a plane parallel with the' respective outwardly extending'portions of the cam groove G justing screws 24twhich are screwthreaded in suitable upwardly extending lugs Q5- secured to or made integral with the cap plate l2- i The screws 2dare arranged to extend from the posts Q2- in a plane in line with the direction of movement of said posts for moving the posts and cam plates connected therewith in one direction only and may be secured in the adjusted position by a lock nut 2% screw-threaded thereon and adapted to engage the adjacent face of the post -25-.

The posts -22- and plats 20- are yieldingly moved in the opposite or outward direction by respective springs -27--' positioned in horizontally disposed holes 2S- provided in the cam-supporting plate 14.- at the inner ends of each slot -23- so that when it is desired to change the length of the stitch, it is only necessary for the operator to 25 loosen the lock nut -26- and rotate the adjusting screw 2din one direction to move the posts -22- and, therefore, the respective cam plates '-20- inwardly against the action of the springs 2T- toward the center of the machine to shorten the distance of travel of the respective needles 5- or to rotate the screw -24- in the opposite direction to permit the springs -27- to move the cam plates -20- outwardly to the desired degree for lengthening the distance of travel of the needles after which the respective plates may be yieldingly maintained in the adjusted position by securing the screws Q4- against rotation by the manipulation It has been found necessary in a device of this nature, where the length of travel of the needles is varied, as required to produce dierent lengths 'of stitches to provide some means for holding the loops in proper relation to the needles during the knitting operation and, therefore, I have provided a simplyconstructed and operated means for this purpose, which is constructed as follows:

n The needle-supporting plate -2 is provided with an extension -2- removably secured to the inner marginal edge thereof by screws 3G-f for receiving and supporting a supplemental guide ring 3lwhich is removably secured by screws -32- to said extension in radial spaced relation to the inner periphery of the plate -2e-to form an intervening annular groove -33 for the reception of portions of a multiplicw ity of web-holding detents' S4- one for each of the needles, i a,v manner presently described.

The opposite walls ofthe groove 33 are provided with a multiplicity of pairs of a vertical groov 35- correspondmg to the facilitate the number of detents 34-, those of each pair being arranged in radial alignment between and adjacent the needles for receiving the adjacent edges of circular portions -36- of the detents for holding the latter edgewise vertically and in uniformly spaced relation circumerentially with the lower edges of the portions -36- resting upon the upper face of the extension -2-.

The object in making the parts -2- and -`3lseparate' from the plate -2- is to formation of the grooves -35- by any suitable cutter such, for example, as a broaching tool, it being understood that these grooves B5- are quite 4narrow transversely and correspond approximately to the thickness oi the corresponding detents. These detents 3dare identical in construction and each consists of a thin plate of sheet metal or equivalent material, having the intermediatependant boss 3G- and oppositely extending arms -37- and -37- of unequal lengths, the longer arm 3T- being extended across the upper face and some distance beyond the inner edge of the guide ring -31-, while the shorter arm -37'- is adapted to overhang the upper face of the inner edge of the plate 2 and may be termed the heel of the detent.

The circular boss -36- is of greater diameter than the vertical depth of the groove 3S- and ofgreater circumferential length than a half circle, so that when seated on the upper face of the extension '2-, as a bearing with its inner and outer edges in the grooves -35-, the arms S7- and -37- will be mainly above the upper face of the ring'-31 and plate 2.- respectively.

' The upper face of the extension -2'- and the walls of each pair of the slots S5--A constitute a journal bearing in which the circular boss -36- of the detent -34- is ournaled to permit vertical rocking or oscillating movement of said detent.

The inner arm -37- of each detent S4- isprovided with a forked pendant extenm'on forming outer` and inner tines -38- and -38'- of which the outer tine` 3S- is considerably longer than the inner tine -38'- to afford an abutment against which the fabric as '-A4- is drawn of the fabric'.

The shorter tine -38'-- forms,with the.

tine -38, an intervening slot -39- which y is open at the bottom to receive the adjacent edge of the fabric -A- when the detent S4- is moved to its web-holding position, as shown in Figure 5, the inner tine 38'- to hold the edge of the fabric against inwa movement when the needle is advaneed to the position shown by dotted lines in Figure 5 preparatory to'engagmg and drawing the yarn through the previously formed loop -A-.

The heel 37'- of each detent -34- i extended acxol the horizontal plane of movement of the needles- 5- into a groove -40-7- rovided inthe upper face of the inner edlge of the needle-supporting plate -2- to in holding the detent in an edgewise vertical position as it is rocked about the axis of the circular boss -36- into and out of holding engagement with the fabric -A.

This movement of the several-detents is effected automatically through the medium of two sets of cam members -41- and 42- whieh are mounted upon the cam-p su v ring -14- in radial spaced relation at opposite sides of but rather close to the vertical plane of the axis ofeach of the detents -34-, as shown more clearly in Figure 5.

The cam members 4I-'- are each pivot- 'ally 'mounted at one end upon a bushing 43- which is secured by a bolt 44- to brackets -'-45 which, in turn, are secured by bolts 46- to the cam ring lto rotate therewith.

The inner end of each of the bushings -43-, in this instance, is provided with an enlar annular flange portion 43'- positiene in aced relation with the respective having an opening provided, at one end cam mem r -.41- for maintaining a spring -47- coiled thereon between the cam s741- and said flange, one end of the spring .-47- being secured to the bushing and the other end resting upon the upper face of ',thecam 4land tensioned to yieldingly maintain the respective cam member A-4r1- inoperative relation with the detents- 73%.

The cam members 4 1, in this instance, are substantially ilat elongated metal pieces Y thereof, Vfor receiving the respective bush'- l i are formed V-shaped for engaging the-de tents -34- and are arranged one cam 1n radial alignment with each outer apex of the cam groove -G-, while the cam members -41- are arranged in radial alignment with/ the inner apex of the groove -G. In other are .arranged complementarir to each other to successively and alternately engagethe upper edges of the detents S4- during the rotary movement thereof for eecting the rocking movement of said detents about the axis of their 've bosses -36.

It will be observed that the vertical grooves .-35- of each pair are`open at the top so that by removing one or more of the cam members A-42-. an Y one or more of the de-V tents P may removed or rplaeed without disturbing any of the other etents, due to the resilient manner in which the'cam members #-41- are mounted, all of which adds materially to the economic assembly and operation of the web-holding devices.

The detent-operating cam members 41- and 4Q- and the cam rings --16 and -17- and, therefore, the cam groove -G- Y are arranged and timed in such manner that when each needle with the yarn therein is drawn backwardly for drawing the yarn through the previously formed loop carried by that needle, the outer arm -37- of the detent will be engaged by the respective cam 4.2- to raise the forked end of the detent out of engagement with the fabric to the extent of withdrawing the tine 38'- from said fabric leaving the other tine 38- in engagement with the outer face of the fabric. Then immediately upon the beginning of the inward movement of the needle, the respectiv. cam member -42- will release the arm -37- ofthe detent, While the next succeeding cam member -41- will engage the arm 7137-- to force the forked end of the detent into holding engagement with the edge of the fabric until the needle has reached its innermost position and engaged th? yarne preparatory to drawing said yarn th oughthe previously -formed loop or to the position shown by dot-ted lines in Figure 5.

Immediately following the engagement of the needle with the yarn and the beginning Y of the drawing of the yarn toward the prevlously formed loop, the next `positioned cam member 42- will then end ofthe detent at about the time the detent 4is, released by thef cam member -41- by said cam passing beyond the respective detent whereupon the inner arm -37- is free .to bemov'ed upwardout ofthe path of the yarn as the latter is drawn through the previouslv formed loop of the fabric by the continued action of the respective cam member It will be observed from the foregoing description that the essential featuresof this intenti on lie in the peculiar construction and operation of the cam plates for varying the cam groove toeifect the desired length of trav of the needles and also in the detents f ngaging the fabric to "rmit the variawords, the cam members -415- and 42- tioninthe travelofthen eandi'lisurethe engage the heel --37'- of the detent to elevate the forked lll proper stitching operation and,ftherefore, I do not Wish to limit myself to any particular mechanism for operating the needles of the detents. A i

I claim:

1. In a knitting machine, a web-holding detent comprising a circular bearing member journaled on the machine, an arm extending from one side of the bearing member having a pendent fork member adapted to engage the fabric, and means alternately-engaging the detent at opposite sides of the axis of the bearing member to rotate said arm into and out of holding engagement with the knitted fabric.

2. In a knitting machine, aA Web-holding detent comprising a circular bearing member journaled on the machine, a pair of arms extending in opposite directions from one side of said bearing member, one of said arms being provided with a pendent fork member adapted to engage the fabric, and means a1- ternately engaging said arms at opposite sides of the axis of said bearing member to rock the detent into and out of holding engagement with the knitted fabric.

3. In a knitting machine, a Web-holding detent comprising a circular lbearing member journaled on the machine, an arm extending from one side of the bearing member having a pendent fork member adapted to engage the fabric, a plurality of actuating means adapted to successively and alternately engage the detent at opposite sides of the axis of the bearing member to yieldingly rock the arm into holding engagement With the knitted fabric and to positively'rock said arm out of holding engagement with the fabric.

4. In a knitting machine, a needle-supporting plate having a groove in one face thereof extending transversely of the direction of movement of the needles, said groove from one side of the bearing member having a pendent forked member adapted to engage the fabric, and a plurality' of actuating means adapted to successively and alternately engage the detents at opposite sides'of the axis of the bearing members to yieldingly rock the arms into holding engagement with the knitted fabric and to positively rock said arm out of holding engagement with the fabric. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set myl hand this 12th day of J une, 1930.

VILLIS ADOLPHUS INGALLS.

having opposed vertical slots in opposite walls thereof and positioned intermediate the needles, a Web-holding detent mounted in said groove, each detent comprising a circular bearing member journaled in opposed slots and upon the bottom of the groove, an arm extending from onegside of the bearing member having \a pendent forked member adapted to engage the fabric, and means alternately engaging the detent at opposite sides of the axis of the bearing member t0 rock said arm into and out of holding engagement with the knitted fabric.

5. In a ing plate having a groove in one face thereof extending transversely of the direction of movement of the needles, said groove having opposed vertical slots in opposite walls thereof and positioned intermediate the needles, a web-holding detent mounted in said groove, each detent comprising a circular bearing member journaled in opposed slots and upon ting machine, a needle-support.-

the bottom of the groove, an arm extending 

